Wetzin’kwa Community Forest Corporation
Board of Directors Meeting
November 25th, 2016
Moricetown Band Office – Small Feast Hall
Present:, David de Wit, Allan Cormier, Gary Hanson, Colin MacLeod, Marc Steynen,
Lorelei Smaha
Regrets: Dave Jacobs
In Attendance: Jay Baker – General Manager, Crystal Trembelas – Recording
Secretary, Dave Louwerse – Operations Manager, Michael Mehr – Accountant
(Edmison Mehr), Christine Bruce, Sybille Haeussler, Linda Hansen, Alana Harris,
Una Kim, Waurner Williams.
Call to Order:
 Co-chair, David de Wit, called the meeting to order at 12:22pm welcoming
everyone to the meeting on behalf of Wah tah K’eght – Henry Alfred who is
House Chief of Laksilyu Clan - Tsee K'al K'e yex (House on the Top of Flat
Rock) with recognition of Wet’suwet’en Territory, in which Smithers resides.
Also, a thank you to Doris Rosso who provided the catered lunch.
 David de Wit invited the Board members to introduce themselves as well as
their position on the Board.
 David also paid respects to the family who experienced a loss; as a body was
being returned back to Hazelton at the time of the meeting.
Agenda:
The proposed agenda was reviewed:
 Gary motioned to approve the agenda
o None opposed
MOTION CARRIED
Minutes:
The Board reviewed the meeting minutes from November 2015 AGM.
 Colin motioned to approve the November 2015 AGM minutes.
o None Opposed
MOTION CARRIED
Operational Report:
Jay presented the Operations Update for 2015/2016 as per the attached Annual Report,
with a brief overview of each section.

Jay further expanded on the Harvesting section in the report with regards to the
end of the uplift period in the Annual Allowable Cut (AAC). In the past there had
been an increase in the AAC due to the Mountain Pine Beetle devastation in the
area. That is now coming to an end which will result in a much lower AAC for
WCFC. Less harvesting will also result in decreased amounts of waste wood left
for slash pile burning.
Grant Program:
Colin shared details on the WCFC Grant Program and the Board’s role in that process
with the largest impact happening during the grant review period in June of every year.
The Board meets and spends a day discussing each individual grant assessing the
benefit and feasibility within the community. All grants are rated based on specific
criteria and from those ratings monies are given out until all monies are exhausted.
$150,000 is set aside every year to fund the wide variety of projects within the
community. Approx. $1.1 million has been awarded to grant applicants as well as over
$600,000 gifted to the stakeholders.
 David de Wit updated the Board from a meeting he attended for SD#54 on their
release of the 2nd edition of the Wet’suwet’en textbook, which received a grant
from WCFC. They acknowledged WCFC for their support on the project.
Year-End Financial Review: (Presented by Michael Mehr of Edmison Mehr)
Michael presented the Year-End financials which were pre-approved by the Board for
this AGM at the October 2016 Board Meeting.
David opened up the floor to anyone who would like to add to the discussion or for any
questions from the group.
 Linda Hanson took the opportunity and thanked the Board on behalf of the
Telkwa Museum for their continuing encouragement and funds granted to the
group and community.
 Sybille Haeussler directed a question to Colin MacLeod on what type of input the
board has with the on-goings of the Community Forest?
o Colin responded explaining briefly how the Board meets together every
month to discuss the on-goings of the Community Forest, giving input on
any decisions which need to be addressed. He acknowledged Silvicon,
especially Jay Baker and Dave Louwerse with the ability to make day to
day operational decisions including the Board on any decisions which
need further decision making. The Board is contacted via e-mail or
presented the questions at the next Board meeting.
o David added that for him, as both, a Office of the Wet’suwet’en
representative and a manager for a natural resource department, multiple
staff members have had the opportunity to work with Dave Louwerse
(Operations Manager) to look at alternative ways to look at cultural
resources, it is a unique opportunity which with most licensee’s would not
be given the opportunity to experience.
 Sybille also inquired as to the discussion (if any) on the aesthetics of the
McDonnell Lake Road, which has been heavily logged in previous years?

o Jay responded assuring the group of the objectives of visual quality in all
harvesting operations. To the specific area in question, as a heavy
impacted location of mountain pine beetle, intense harvesting was
completed, with little understory present to retain the aesthetics once that
had taken place. Areas that have a diversity of species that have not been
so heavily affected by the mountain pine beetle, there is the opportunity
and much more availability for retaining the understory throughout
harvesting.
o David applauded Sybille with her questions and responded with assurance
of the importance of re-planting and forest health in all operation and
harvesting methods. The Board encourages the community to come
forward with ideas, thoughts and concerns on forest management to be
considered.
Linda added a suggestion to the Board for areas that have been harvested, to
have signage posted to indicate the number of trees harvested, planted, the
species of trees etc. As a member of the community, she finds it very
encouraging to see information and over the years watch as the trees grow to fill
in the areas which have been harvested.
David thanked everyone for attending the 2016 AGM and for the questions and
comments presented.
Wrap Up
The next meeting will be discussed via e-mail amongst the Board.
Meeting Adjourned
The meeting adjourned at 1:35pm.